An Overview of the Photocatalytic H-2 Evolution by Semiconductor-Based Materials for Nonspecialists

Author(s)

Teixeira, Ivo F. ^[1] ; Quiroz, Jhon ^{[2, 3]} ; Homsi, Mauricio S. ^[2] ; Camargo, Pedro H. C. ^[3]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed Sao Carlos UFSCar, Dept Quim, BR-13565905 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Quim Fundamental, Inst Quim, BR-05508000 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Helsinki, Dept Chem, AI Virtasen Aukio 1, FIN-00014 Helsinki - Finland

• Document type: Review article
• Source: Journal of the Brazilian Chemical Society; v. 31, n. 2, p. 211-229, FEB 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

The solar-to-chemical energy conversion is promising to tackle sustainability challenges toward a global future. The production of H-2 from sunlight represents an attractive alternative to the use of carboniferous fossil fuels to meet our energy demands. In this context, the water splitting reaction photocatalyzed by semiconductors that can be excited under visible or near-infrared light excitation represents an attractive route to the clean generation of H-2. In this review, we present an overview of the most important concepts behind the H-2 generation, from water splitting, promoted by semiconductor-based systems for readers that were recently introduced to the water splitting topic. Then, we present the main classes of photocatalysts based on semiconductors. For each class of semiconductors, we focused on the examples that lead to the highest activities towards the H-2 production and discuss the operation principles, advantages, performances, limitations, and challenges. We cover metal oxides, sulfides, and nitrides. We also discuss strategies in which these materials are combined, including hybridization with metal nanoparticles, other semiconductors, and carbon dots, to achieve improved performances and circumvent the limitations of the individual counterparts. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/05506-0 - Nanoengineering Materials for Plasmonic Photocatalytic Applications
• Grantee: Ivo Freitas Teixeira
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 15/26308-7 - Optimization of the physicochemical properties of nano -structured materials for applications in molecular recognition, catalysis and energy conversion/storage
• Grantee: Roberto Manuel Torresi
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 18/23495-9 - Nanohybrids photocatalyst AuPd/g-C3N4 nanosheets to promote CH4 oxidation into methanol under mild conditions
• Grantee: Mauricio Samuel Homsi
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• FAPESP's process: 16/17866-9 - Tailoring the catalytic properties of plasmonic Nanorattles towards the photochemical activation of oxygen under mild conditions
• Grantee: Jhon Jhon Quiroz Torres
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral